MDC’s Miami Book Fair Announces Major Sponsors

Miami, Oct. 22, 2019 – Organizers of the 36th edition of the nations finest and largest literary gathering, Miami Book Fair (MBF) at Miami Dade College (MDC) are pleased to present this year’s sponsors.

“Thanks to the generous support we receive from our sponsors, for eight consecutive days, the Fair will host hundreds of authors, provide transportation, free books to thousands of children, and will bring together a community of readers who will celebrate the written word,” said MBF’s Director of Operations, Delia Lopez.

The 2019 Miami Book Fair sponsors are as follows:

Premier Sponsors

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy.  For more information, visit www.knightfoundation.org.

Royal Caribbean International is known for driving innovation at sea and has continuously redefined cruise vacationing since its launch in 1969. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel and pushes the envelope of what is possible on a cruise ship. Onboard, the global cruise line has debuted countless industry “firsts” – such as rock climbing, ice skating and surfing at sea – to capture the imagination of families and adventurous vacationers alike. Throughout, guests sail on exciting itineraries to some of the world’s most popular destinations and enjoy Royal Caribbean’s friendly and engaging service.  For more information, visit www.royalcaribbean.com.

OHL- Arellano Construction Co. is a comprehensive construction management firm headquartered in Miami, Florida, which specializes in the construction and renovation of healthcare, commercial, and institutional facilities. Founded in 1974, OHL-Arellano Construction has a reputation for outstanding client service, quality, and integrity. They build relationships, not just buildings. This service-oriented approach coupled with OHL’s 100+ years of building complex, technically challenging projects throughout the world and the ability to offer financing options, provides a truly unique combination to the Florida construction market.   For more information, visit www.ohlarellano.com.

The de Groot Foundation is a 501(C)(3) foundation located in the United States. The foundation was created in 2010 by Norma, Charles and Clydette de Groot to support high impact, sustainable innovation, education and cultural projects. Clydette and Charles de Groot are co-directors of the foundation.  For more information, visit www.degrootfoundation.org.

Meredyth Anne Dasburg Foundation is also a Premier Sponsor of this year’s Miami Book Fair

Major Sponsors

Green Family Foundation founded in 1991 by Steven J. Green, former United States Ambassador to Singapore, the Green Family Foundation (GFF) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting social programs that positively impact global health and alleviate poverty. The Green Family Foundation’s mission is to make a positive and meaningful impact in communities both at home and abroad. We provide funding and resources to organizations that support education, global health and community development. GFF empowers under-served communities to fight the cycle of extreme poverty, leading to sustainable programs that improve lives. GFF supports grassroots initiatives that provide quality care to those in need by focusing on prevention, education and treatment. The foundation empowers communities through grants that enable progressive organizations to help build self-reliance. Today, Kimberly Green, president, continues to advance her family’s vision.  For more information, visit www.greenff.org.

The Batchelor Foundation established in 1990 in Miami Beach, FL by George E. Batchelor focuses on providing support to organizations involved with arts and culture, education, the environment, animals and wildlife, health, human services, and economically disadvantaged people. Special emphasis is directed toward programs designed to engage in medical research and provide care for childhood diseases; and promote study, preservation, and public awareness of the natural environment. For more information, visit www.nancybatchelor.com/batchelor-foundation.

South Motors Automotive Group has been providing South Florida with all their automotive needs since 1965. In these 50 years South Motors has prided itself in providing not only outstanding products, but also outstanding customer service, consistently providing their customers with the respect and transparency needed when making a life altering decision like the purchase of a vehicle. South Motors does not just sell cars; they create relationships that are mutually beneficial for the communities of South Florida. For more information, visit www.southmotors.com.

Other Major Sponsors of the Fair include: Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center at FIU, and Stephanie Ansin & Spenser Stewart.

Associate Sponsors

The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue derived from property taxes, established by voter referendum in 2002. Their mission is to partner with the community to plan, advocate for and fund strategic investments that improve the lives of all children and families in Miami-Dade County. They envision a community that works together to provide the essential foundations to enable every child to achieve their full potential… Because All Children Are Our Children.  For more information, visit www.thechildrenstrust.org.

Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring early care and education for children in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Through a variety of affordable and innovative early education and voluntary pre-kindergarten programs, the Coalition serves more than 50,000 children ages birth to 12 years old and their families. Founded in 2000, the Coalition is among 31 similar organizations in the State of Florida established following the enactment of the School Readiness Act, which consolidated Florida’s early learning services into one integrated program. To promote high-quality school readiness, voluntary pre-kindergarten and after school programs, thus increasing all children’s chances of achieving future educational success and becoming productive members of society. The Coalition seeks to further the physical, social, emotional and intellectual needs of Miami-Dade and Monroe County children with a priority toward the ages before birth through age 5.

Follett Higher Education Group has been a trusted partner to Pre-K and K-12 schools, districts, and college campuses for more than 140 years, taking care of the critical details that make it easier for schools to run, teachers to teach and students to learn. They bring together educational content, products and technologies to prepare the next generation of learners and educators. By working as a trusted partner to schools and institutions, they help educators drive success for students from their first day of school through college graduation and beyond. For more information, visit  www.follett.com.

Jackson Health System is a nonprofit academic medical system offering world-class care to any person who walks through its doors. Governed by the Public Health Trust, a team of citizen volunteers acting on behalf of the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, Jackson Health System ensures that all residents of Miami-Dade County receive a single high standard of care regardless of their ability to pay.

Baptist Health of South Florida – With more than 1.5 million patient visits every year, we receive rave reviews from the people we serve. In fact, patients and their families from around the world travel to Miami for our medical expertise. We are proud of our team: approximately 19,500 employees and more than 3,000 physicians in virtually all specialties — many with national and international reputations. All of this and more makes us South Florida’s world-class healthcare organization.

Publix Super Markets Charities – In 1966 Publix Super Markets founder George W. Jenkins, affectionately known as Mr. George, established a charitable foundation with the intention of caring for his community—and with a vision that the giving would continue long after he was gone. Today, under the leadership of Mr. George’s daughter, Carol Jenkins Barnett, Publix Super Markets Charities remains committed to serving the communities in which Publix operates. And the legacy of giving continues. By supporting a variety of nonprofit organizations engaged in life-changing work, Publix Charities makes a far-reaching impact throughout the Southeast. Their areas of focus are youth, education, reducing hunger, and alleviating homelessness.

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau is a sales and marketing organization. Its mission is to attract, encourage and induce all persons and organizations to visit Greater Miami and its Beaches for conventions, business and pleasure. Acting on behalf of its members, its interlocal partners and the citizens of Miami-Dade County, the GMCVB markets and promotes all segments of the community as a preferred destination. In furtherance of this mission, the GMCVB will support and encourage actions and programs that enhance the desirability and attractiveness of Greater Miami and its Beaches for its visitors.

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,200 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance.

Other Associate Sponsors of the Fair include: Peacock Foundation, GEICO, Alvah H. and Wyline P. Chapman Foundation, The Standard, Miami Parking Authority, Florida Dairy Farmers, Tilia, and Miami International Airport.

Supporting Sponsors

Wells Fargo Foundation and Wells Fargo provide monetary support, expertise, and volunteers to national and local nonprofit organizations and causes that align with their business priorities, values, business expertise, and geographies. They focus their philanthropic activities on creating long-term, strategic relationships with nonprofits and other organizations to create innovative, sustainable solutions to meet local needs. The Wells Fargo team members help make an even bigger impact through their passion, time, and expertise.

Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving approximately 4.9 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million people across nearly half of the state of Florida. The company received the top ranking in the southern U.S. among large electric providers, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM), and was recognized in 2016 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,900 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune’s 2017 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun.

Other Supporting Sponsors of the Fair include John & Gaye Patton Foundation, FujiFilm Instax, Berger Singerman, Anser Advisory, Bilzin Sumberg, Michael & Fabian de Armas, University of Miami Libraries, Miami Country Day School, TMobile, United Teachers of Dade, Miami Dade Transit, the Cowles Charitable Trust, Nicklaus Children’s Health System, Miami-Dade Public Library System, Tri-Rail, and KIND.

Media Sponsor

The Miami Herald Media Company (MHMC) publishes The Miami Herald, winner of 20 Pulitzer Prizes, and El Nuevo Herald, recipient of the Ortega y Gasset international prize for Spanish-language publications. Together, MHMC newspapers are read each week by more than 1.5 million people in print and online at MiamiHerald.com and elNuevoHerald.com. MHMC also publishes Miami.com and Miami.com en Español, South Florida’s most comprehensive interactive guides to local entertainment and attractions for both locals and tourists. MHMC produces content across all media, including video, wireless formats and radio broadcasts on WLRN/Herald News, as well as custom publications for hotels, airlines and other clients.  For more information, visit www.miamiherald.com, www.elnuevoherald.com.

South Florida PBS/WPBT2 broadens the boundaries of communication, and is an agent for innovation and growth; culturally, socially, economically and historically. Through varied media and technologies WPBT2 extends the reach of the arts and education, connects organizations and institutions across this diverse region, and preserves South Florida’s history, leading the way in this global society. They provide content from PBS, other partners, and of their own creation – programs and services that change lives, inspire trust, and make a difference. WPBT2 is community-supported and takes pride in reflecting the diversity of the region in which we all live and work.  For more information, visit www.wpbt2.org.

WLRN Radio is the oldest FM station in South Florida and a National Public Radio (NPR) member station. From 5 in the morning until 7 at night, 91.3 FM is the first choice among South Floridians who keep abreast of world events through NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered. WLRN also offers a range of thoughtful and engaging national talk shows including Fresh Air with Terry Gross, The Takeaway, 1A, and On Point with Tom Ashbrook.  Weekends bring first-person stories and short fiction pieces that continue to surprise and touch audiences, including the ever-popular This American Life and The Moth Radio Hour. The Radiolab is another weekend favorite, along with Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me and Weekend Edition.

C-SPAN 2 Book TV C-SPAN is a public service created by the American Cable Television Industry with a mission to provide access to the live gavel-to-gavel proceedings of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and to other forums where public policy is discussed, debated and decided––all without editing, commentary or analysis and with a balanced presentation of points of view; to provide elected and appointed officials and others who would influence public policy a direct conduit to the audience without filtering or otherwise distorting their points of view; to provide the audience, through the call-in program, direct access to elected officials, other decision makers and journalists on a frequent and open basis; and to employ production values that accurately convey the business of government rather than distract from it.

Other Media Sponsors of the Fair include: Univision Communications, Publishers Weekly, WDNA, Harper’s Magazine, CNN Español, Parents Latina, Miami Legacy, Literary Hub, Art Hive Magazine and Book View Now.

Institutional Supporters of the Book Fair include Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Downtown Development Authority, and Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs.

Visit MiamiBookFair.com for complete schedule and more information.  #MiamiReads

About Miami Book Fair

Founded in 1984 by Miami Dade College and partners, Miami Book Fair engages the community through inclusive, accessible programs that promote reading and support writers year-round. The annual eight-day festival has grown into the largest and most comprehensive community-rooted literary gathering in the United States generating discourse on contemporary literature and current issues of international importance. Throughout the rest of the year, Miami Book Fair responds hosts an ongoing schedule of activities, including The Little Haiti Book Festival; creative writing and publishing workshops; author presentations; reading campaigns; and Read to Learn Books for Free, a partnership with The Children’s Trust that distributes more than 150,000 free books a year to children in Miami-Dade County.

Miami Book Fair programming is made possible through generous support from the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; Miami Downtown Development Authority; and Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners. Miami Book Fair: Building community, one reader at a time.

Miami Book Fair media contacts: Lisa Palley, 305-642-3132, lpalley@bellsouth.net or Deyanira Navarrette, 305-495-7168, deyanavarrette@gmail.com